Rope-clamp.



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ROPE CLAMP.

APPLICATION r1150 OCT. 31. 1914.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. C. SWISHER.

ROPE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31. 1914.

.1 1 59 ,6 1 6 Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIGQ.

SAMUEL C. SWISI-IER, OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNGR TO ROSS W.IVLARKEL, OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA.

ROPE-GLAMP.

Application filed October 31, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. SWISHER, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at San Bernardino, inthe county of San Bernardino and State of California, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Rope-Clamps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in rope clamps, and whileit is designed especially for pulling large wires and cables as used byelectric light, street car and other electrical construction, and alsofor pulling ropes used by riggers, it will of course be understood thatthe rope clamp is applicable for use wherever such an implement isrequired. In pulling ropes, cables, and wires, a clamp is required whichmay be quickly applied, and with equal quickness and facility bedetached from the rope, and which, when in use, shall be clamped to holdthe rope securely and without slipping.

By the utilization of my device the rope may be clamped at any desiredpoint for pulling, and the device may be shifted along the rope or cablewith facility and adjusted to the proper point at which the pull is tobe applied.

The invention consists essentially in certain novel combinations andarrangements of clamping means used in connection with a pair ofclamping blocks, as will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention, and a modified form of one ofthe clamp blocks, constructed according to the best modes I have so fardevised for the practical application of the principles of theinvention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the clamping device operatively appliedto a rope or cable. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device laid open. Fig.3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. .t is acentral longitudinal vertical section of one of the clamp blocks showingthe friction groove for the rope. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of thecleats with an eye at the end, and Fig. 6 is a side view of the samecleat. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a cleat with a hook, and Fig. 8 is aside view of the same cleat. Fig. 9 is a view of a double cleat, one ofwhich is used at one end of each clamp block. Fig. 10 is a Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 869,596.

side elevation of a portion of two blocks, showlng not only the frictiongroove curved,

but showing the faces of the blocks curved as well.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in thedrawings, I employ two clamping blocks as 1 and 2, which may be made ofsuitable material either wood or metal, and in some instances the woodenblocks are lined or faced with metal plates. These blocks are ofsuitable dimen sions, and they may be varied in size to adapt them todifferent sized ropes, cables or wires. One face of each block, thefaces which are opposite each other when the blocks are in operativeposition, is grooved from end to end, as shown in Fig. 2, where thegroove in the block 1 is indicated as 3, and the groove in the block 2is indicated as 4:. The grooves are of suitable size to accommodateseveral sizes of cable or rope, and in Figs. 1 and 4, it will be seenthat the grooves follow a compound curve from one end of the block tothe other. This formation of groove is provided in order that the cableor wire may be rigidly held between the two blocks, because of theincreased friction and grip with which the blocks are clamped to thecable or wire.

Each of the blocks is equipped with a series ofmetallic cleats or strapsspaced apart at convenient intervals throughout the length of the block,and these cleats not only strengthen the wooden blocks themselves, butserve the purpose of supporting the meansfor clamping the blocks on thewire or cable 5. There are two forms of these metallic cleats or straps,as best shown in Figs. 5 to 8, Figs. 5 and 6 illustrating a cleat 6 withan eye 7 turned up at one end, and Figs. 7 and 8 illustrating a cleat Swith a hook 9 forming one terminal of the strap. One end of all of thecleats is turned over to form a hook as 10, which hook engages over anedge or corner of the blocks to which it is attached by screws or boltspassed through the openings 11 in the cleat. It will be readily seenthat these cleats are located transversely of the blocks, so that thehooks 9 and eyes 7 are positioned at opposite sides of the block.

In Fig. 2 it will be seen that there are four eyes 7 in juxtaposition,when the clamp is turned open, and through these eyes the end portion 12of the flexible wire or pull these eyes is adapted: to. engage loop L61formed: at the bend; between (lOUb'lflClGtll'r':

which:.is-fashioned with a; pair of: straps 171 and 18. In Fig. 9, aswell as in 1',

will readily beiseen; that these-two; strapsll7 and) 18; are arranged1n. planes. at r ght angles to each. other, and"; each. 1s provided.

with an end: hook-19.. adapted toengage overthe corner or edge of ablock. in manner similar to. that;- of the hook L01 on. the other:

cleats, This double cleat is secured to; the;-

block by screwslor boltspassed) through perforations 20: inf each.strapa of: the eleat, and in Figs;. 1; and; 2; it: will readily beseen.thatthecleat with; its double straps. is; attached: totheend; of a blockand alsotothebottom or. top of they block, as;the CLSQ2H1L be; bends16-1 are-spaced away fromithebloclc a. suitabledistance to form a loopfor; the eyes. 14001} 15,. so=tliat said: eyes will: looselyv en.-. gage:theseloo-ps. The pull rope is; provided with; a. flexible shield; 21.-to\ which; the, pulih ing. device is. applied when it: is. desired to;use theropeclainp for thepur-pose of pull:- i'ngz a rope-orcable.

llniFig. 10, the blocks;1%,2* l1aite a-=grooue1- 3 extending throughtheface of each,v but in this instance the groove is. of equal: depth.throughout the. length of the block; How-i ever, the face, r of the,block; is curved; or undulating, and. by; this. means. the: same effectis attained as when; the groouesfareof; varying depths: as. in. Figs. 1:and; 2..

In using therope clamp; it is. opened'iback,

as; shown in; Fig. 2 with the; pull rope. pass ing through themad]0in1ng; eyes. ofthe. complementaryblocks and: forming a; hinge,

This. arrangement of rope and: eyes insuress.

against; loss of theblocksor displacementiofi the same, and: forms a convenientgmeans; of opening or detaching; the clamp from the: wire orcable. hen.- the clamp is. to heap plied,.the wire-or cable is laid inthe groove:

4,.then: theblack l. is folded over-0n top: of: the wire: orcable with,thegroove 3 fitting;

in close frictional contact. The end 13 of the wire is then passed underthe two hooks 9on the block 2. The clamp is now in position foruse, andthe power is applied at the flexible joint or shield 21. l/Vhen thepower begins to draw on the pull rope, it will readily be seen that theslack is taken up in the portions 12 and 13, the pull rope is drawntaut,- the-two blocks are consequently made to grip the wire or cable 5,and the position onthe wi'reor cable-g The'curve or undulatingformation. of the grooves as def. scribed assists in holdingsthe wire orcable and preventing slipping. It will: readily be seen thatthedevi'cemay be adjusted to any point or position; on the wire or cableby device is thus securely and rigidly held; in.

slacking the pull rope, and; ifid'esired, the

device, may be readily: opened lifting or withdrawing: thep ortionx 131of:'t he pulliropei from the. two shocks. 9, 9":v Then making; a. pullif it is found-ithat the device-.isnot lo:

cated in the proper position, the strain on. the pull rope-is released;and then. thexclarnpmay b d-j usted; by slipping! it. backwardiorforward on the wire or cableuntil the proper position is found; Thefriction. or-

pr e i n o fi gloored blocks on? the. wire 0 gable-is: positisteand:direct so that. thereiis. no: likelihood; of the-1. deviceishp i anddamaging the wireior cable by hearing or. brealnngthestrands;

From the above description tHkQIL l ILCQIIQ neotiom with. my; drawings.it. is: apparent that I; haveprovided a device. which; 1s.

facile in manipulation, isi-economical-t and; elftc1ent 1111 Operation,which. w1thajl;pro.-- vides a. devicethat is comparatmely; perfect,

and performs its functions in a highly: c0m= mendable manner.

lclaim:

A; hinged. rope clamp; a. pair ofa'blocks and: a pull; rope attached:to; the.=. end ofeachy. cleatson. each block: hating-eyes. one side of"the clamp; through. which. one end: of; the pull ropeis permanently:passed, and; other cleats on, the blocks hauingqalternating: eyesv and.-hooks over which the other; end. of; said; pulle rope nlay be?detachably: engageda.

In; testimony whereof I. my signature: in presence of two witnesses...

SAMUEL, C, Witnesses; 1

L., DIQKSONQ. J=.. MARGARET. Sworn.

Copies of: this patent. may-be ohtaineijor; fire-cents each, byaddressing{ the, Commissioner 0fEBatents,.

' Washington, 1);,05

